Details On "no Fishing Zone" Below Dam

[littlemiamijeff]

I posted my intro in the "Introduce yourself" forum, with a couple pics of Wipers from below Bagnell Dam July 21-25, 2009

My question still remains: Can you CAST into the No Fishing Zone, as I did, along with a dozen boaters and many more bank fishermen.

I was told both ways, you can't and you can. Obviously the best and what seems to be the biggest wipers are in the boil it's self, or very close to it. I did very well in the wash below too, using a launcher bobber and fluke tail on leader.

Want to get back BAD, Ohio River at Meldahl dam is not good at all this year, skunked last night.

LMJ

[FishinCricket]

Welcome to the forum!

The two lines that run all the way down the bank to the water, through the water and out the other side.. One yellow, one red (if I remember correctly). The yellow line is closer to the dam itself.

No boats or bank fisherman past the first line, ni lures can be cast across the yellow line (runs up to a sign that says NO FISHING BEYOND THIS POINT)

I had to ask allot of people to come up with a response that seemed right, so this is by no means official.. Simply my understanding of the regs. When you get your reply from MDC, come back and let us know eh?

[emjay]

Man, is there always that many boaters in the water there? That sure is one big crowd.

[littlemiamijeff]

  emjay said:

Man, is there always that many boaters in the water there? That sure is one big crowd.

First of all, there were times you could almost walk across the boats!

Here's Greg Stoner of the MO MDC's response to my question, which is below.

I responded back, I understand WHY there's a no fishing zone, still haven't been told YES or NO within 75 yards, or am I reading this wrong?

LMJ

Hello Jeff,

Below Bagnell Dam, there is a 75 yard no fishing zone which corresponds with the no boating zone. This was put into effect for a number of reasons, but the two which stand out the most were:

1.) Safety for workers/visitors at Bagnell Dam - numerous instances had occurred where persons on the dam were narrowly missed by lures cast from the river. Window in the dam were also broken by cast lures on a fairly regular basis.

2.) Many species of gamefish concentrate in high numbers at the downstream face of the dam. Illegal snagging of gamefish, sublegal paddlefish in particular was commonplace and difficult to enforce, particularly after dark. Closure of this area to fishing has provided a refuge for small paddlefish by decreasing mortality due to hooking and/or illegal harvest. The emphasis was placed on paddlefish since the population of this species in the Osage Basin is limited to hatchery production. Little to no natural reproduction occurs and upstream migration of paddlefish out of the Missouri river appears to be very limited.

If you would like to discuss this issue further, please contact me by e-mail or at 573-346-2210 x235.

Sincerely,

Greg Stoner

Fisheries Management Biologist - Lake of the Ozarks

Just wondering, after the fact: the 75 yard "NO FISHING" zone below Bagnell Dam on the Osage River, can you cast into it, from 75 yards away, or is there to be no fishing withing 225 feet of the dam what-so-ever?

If there is NO FISHING in this zone, why not?

Just curious, I fish a lot of dams in the mid-west, and "no fishing" doesn't occur much, I understand not allowing boats in close for safety reasons.

Thanks!

Jeff

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Jeff Plummer

4443 Plainville Rd.

Cincinnati, OH 45227

Cincinnati, OH 45227 - US